Air India extends contingency plan for overseas flights

Air India tonight extended the contingency plan for international operations by more than a month amid continuing agitation of pilots affiliated to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG).

As per the new schedule, which will be applicable till 30 June, Air India will operate 38 international flights per day instead of 45 it operates under normal conditions.[caption id=“attachment_319275” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“On contingency mode. Reuters”] [/caption]

All flights to UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Singapore, Thailand and SAARC countries are being operated as per normal schedule. The only destinations not covered under the interim schedule are: Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul and Toronto.

The airline claimed in a statement that all domestic operations remain normal and there are no disruptions due to the present agitation.

The statement also said that the Delhi High Court today issued notices in contempt petition to 68 pilots who have reported sick after the order of the single judge of 9 May 2012.

It added that “Air India has referred to DGCA more than 100 pilots who have exceeded 15 days of sick leave as on date for medical examination.”

This means licenses of such pilots could well be cancelled.

This is the 16th day of pilot agitation and IPG claimed earlier in the day that 424 of its 444 members are participating in the agitation.

PTI